F3 Support for Columbia, SC Flood

$55,393
of $60,000 goal

What started as a small request to help some of our F3 families has morphed into an amazing testament of love and giving. We are broadening the scope to provide direct relief via gift cards to those directly affected by the floods. Thank you for your continued support!

Sunday morning October 4th, three days of torrential rains in Columbia SC culminated with massive flooding that ripped through the heart of F3 Columbia. Despite their own losses, many of our pax readily took to boats and other vehicles to literally rescue neighbors from rising waters and provide immediate emergency assistance. Some of our guys have lost everything -- homes, cars, businesses. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or loss of life.

We need help for our displaced families. So many of you have asked "how?" Please consider a cash donation.

These funds will be used first and foremost to assist our own pax with their short term, immediate needs (including shelter, food, and clothing) as they clean up and return to normal. Any remaining funds will be distributed directly to those in need.

Thank you all, F3 Nation, for all of your thoughts, prayers, tweets, texts, calls, and overall concern for us in Columbia. We will be OK, and we will do what we can to make sure our community will be, too. Your financial help -- no matter how large or small -- is greatly appreciated.

Flynn Bowie

PS: 2/10/16 - Per GoFundMe guidelines and request, I'm required to let you know that these funds will come to me personally to then be passed along to F3 Columbia for distribution by the Flood Committee.

Thank you F3 PAX. Update from my paraplegic uncle in Columbia, SC. 10-7-15 - Another beautiful, sunny day here in South Carolina. As the adrenalin rush subsides reality is setting in. Houses, memories, businesses, and jobs are gone, some headed to the ocean. The costs are going to be tremendous. Just the road and bridge damage repairs are going to be a costly and long term job. In some places the tremendous force of the water created canyons, not gullies. A couple of stressed earthen dams have been reinforced. They worked all night on the water plant channel. Currently the Chinooks are dropping 750 1-ton sandbags into the breached area. They are using techniques similar to those used on the New Orleans levees. The Chinooks are flying almost over our house when they go back to the McIntire Air National Guard base to refuel. Last week a local police officer was shot and killed apprehending a suspect, leaving behind a widow and 6 month old son. Yesterday the young woman was volunteering at the food bank. We have our share of idiots too. This morning some people drove around the barricade at a closed road. The road collapsed under the vehicle. The vehicle plunged into a large sinkhole filled with water. Three of the people managed to get out. They are now attempting to find the bodies of the two that did not escape. Half the deaths have been people in cars that got submerged. As the water travels down the river there will be more flooding. One of the major problems is in the eastern part of the state. A 70 mile stretch of Interstate 95, the main north-south route, has been closed. The 168 mile detour is a challenge. Count your blessings.

Thank you F3 PAX. Update from my paraplegic uncle in Columbia, SC. 10-7-15 - Another beautiful, sunny day here in South Carolina. As the adrenalin rush subsides reality is setting in. Houses, memories, businesses, and jobs are gone, some headed to the ocean. The costs are going to be tremendous. Just the road and bridge damage repairs are going to be a costly and long term job. In some places the tremendous force of the water created canyons, not gullies. A couple of stressed earthen dams have been reinforced. They worked all night on the water plant channel. Currently the Chinooks are dropping 750 1-ton sandbags into the breached area. They are using techniques similar to those used on the New Orleans levees. The Chinooks are flying almost over our house when they go back to the McIntire Air National Guard base to refuel. Last week a local police officer was shot and killed apprehending a suspect, leaving behind a widow and 6 month old son. Yesterday the young woman was volunteering at the food bank. We have our share of idiots too. This morning some people drove around the barricade at a closed road. The road collapsed under the vehicle. The vehicle plunged into a large sinkhole filled with water. Three of the people managed to get out. They are now attempting to find the bodies of the two that did not escape. Half the deaths have been people in cars that got submerged. As the water travels down the river there will be more flooding. One of the major problems is in the eastern part of the state. A 70 mile stretch of Interstate 95, the main north-south route, has been closed. The 168 mile detour is a challenge. Count your blessings.